Starfania blinked rapidly as reality returned in fragments. The cavern, the smoke, the ashes where Bone once lay—everything snapped back into place like she'd been dropped from another world. The jewel's glow dimmed to a faint shimmer. Her chest rose and fell unevenly as one trembling hand clutched over her heart, desperate to steady herself. A sharp voice cut through her dizziness. " Starfania!"
Aeron rushed forward, his worry poorly masked beneath a thin veil of composure. His forest-green eyes searched her face, frantic despite his attempt to stay calm. " What on earth just happened? "
He hovered near her shoulder—close enough to catch her if she collapsed again, far enough to respect that she'd just wielded something neither of them understood. Behind him, Violet stood frozen, her small fingers pressed together nervously. Her violet eyes shimmered with a mix of fear and wonder.
" It's so… beautiful, " she whispered. Her voice trembled as she crept closer, Aeron instinctively moving with her like a protective barrier. Starfania swallowed hard, shaking her head as if trying to shake off the last threads of the trance.
" I… I don't know how to explain it, " she said, breath still uneven. " It was like… I was somewhere else entirely. There was a voice—no, a presence—that spoke to me."
Violet's eyes widened. Aeron stepped subtly closer. Starfania's next words fell out in a fragile rush. " It said the Dragon Savior has returned to Avalon…to save this world from the shadow."
Aeron stiffened. He crossed his arms, more out of needing to ground himself than out of skepticism. His expression was a heavy blend of disbelief…and something else. Something wary. Something protective.
" Dragon Savior?" He echoed, brow furrowing. "And this… ' presence'. Did it tell you why it decided to speak through you? "
Starfania shook her head, frustration bubbling beneath her voice. "No. It didn't explain itself. It felt ancient, like it had lived through the ages. Strong but…gentle. Like it was pushing me to understand something important. "
Aeron leaned in—curiosity edging past his fear. " So what does it want from you? What does this title even mean?"
" I wish I knew. " She ran both hands through her hair, gaze drifting to the sword's dark gem. " But it felt real. Like this moment—this connection—could change everything."
She lifted her eyes to Aeron, her voice softening with sudden vulnerability. " What if this is more than some strange vision? What if I'm really supposed to…do something?"
Aeron didn't answer right away. He studied her—really studied her.
Her trembling hands. Her haunted eyes. The sword glowing faintly at her side. His jaw clenched.
" Star…" he said quietly, stepping close enough that his warmth brushed her arm. " You really believe this presence chose you?"
His tone wasn't mocking. It wasn't skeptical anymore. It was careful. Gentle. And filled with the weight of someone who feared the answer might change everything about her…and about them. Violet looked between the two, clutching Drogo's leg for comfort. Starfania opened her mouth—and the caverns seemed to hold its breath.